Sharks president says GM search will be lengthy one

SAN JOSE » The Sharks could still be a couple of months away from hiring a full-time general manager although in-person interviews will begin soon, team president Jonathan Becher said.

Becher said the Sharks, who started with a list of more than 50 candidates, have narrowed the number to between 20 and 25. The team has had calls with approximately 10 to 12 people already and has scheduled times to talk to other candidates via Zoom.

Based on those video calls, the Sharks will start to schedule in-person interviews in waves, perhaps two or three per week.

“And even if we find the exact right person, the very first person that comes in,” Becher said, “we’ll still go with the process.”

Becher said the Sharks’ search committee, which includes owner Hasso Plattner and interim general manager Joe Will, will speak to the most intriguing candidates another two to four more times.

“There is no front runner so far,” Becher said. “Nobody can say they’re a front runner right now because literally, we don’t have (one). We’re not even close to the end.”

Becher said the Sharks have requested permission from other NHL teams to interview candidates. Some teams have granted permission, but others wanted the Sharks to hold off until after that team’s playoff run had ended.

That could affect the timeline for a GM hire since the NHL playoffs are in the first round and do not end until late June. The NHL Draft is July 7-8 and free agency begins July 13.

“I think we’ve been pretty clear — we’re going to wait for the right person as opposed to force the timeline,” Becher said. “I think (Will) also said in a perfect world, when the official start of next fiscal year, kind of midJuly, we’d like to have someone in place. But if it doesn’t work out, we’ll get it done late July, early August.”

Becher said the focus remains on external candidates after Doug Wilson stepped down as the Sharks GM last month after 19 years on the job. The Sharks have missed the playoffs three straight years, attendance at home games has cratered and a handful of aging players remain on long-term contracts.

“We’re learning new things,” he said. “We always ask people — critique us, tell us what we’ve done poorly, tell us what you would have done differently. Critique what we’ve done for the last five to 10 years and even for candidates that don’t come aboard, you learn a little bit in the process, and that’s a good thing.”

The feedback the Sharks received ranged from those who said they would only make a few tweaks, to others that said they would have things much differently.

“A lot different doesn’t mean that we eliminate them from consideration,” Becher said. “Some of this is opinion, right? Everyone’s entitled to their strongly held opinion. Just bring some facts.”

The Sharks want to grow hockey and expand their footprint in Northern California and are looking for someone who is comfortable working behind the scenes, in front of audiences, and in the community.

Becher also reiterated the Sharks are not interested in a long rebuild. The Sharks signed center Tomas Hertl to an eight-year, $65.1 million contract extension in March, and just inked winger Alexander Barabanov to a two-year, $5 million extension.

Becher said the new Sharks GM will have the autonomy to adjust the roster, but will not chart a course to intentionally lose games.